Latest news with #JonFerguson
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
‘Swan Whisperer' who ‘cuddled and kissed' birds BANNED from London park after ramming concerned woman with bike
A HOMELESS "swan whisperer" has been banned from entering Hyde Park after a row erupted over his relationship with the park's swans. Anders Fernstedt, 57, had a furious row with a woman after she complained about him kissing and cuddling the birds. 5 5 Bird lovers saw Anders, who sleeps rough on the doorstep of a mansion in Knightsbridge, picking up, kissing and stroking the swans. They took issue with Anders "interfering" with the protected species at the Round Pond near Kensington Palace. Anders got into an altercation with two individuals who tried to stop him from kissing the birds, ramming his bicycle into one of them after she refused to stop filming him. The incident in 2023 saw Virginia Grey, a local resident, and Jon Ferguson, a swan volunteer, confront Anders. Grey filmed the argument and when she refused to stop Anders branded her "Hitler" before ramming his bicycle into her. Jon Ferguson then tried to apprehend Anders with the two ending up in a fight, rolling around on the ground. Mr Ferguson reportedly required stitches on the inside of his mouth and painkillers after the scrap. Following the tussle on the ground between the two men Anders came back and attacked Ferguson again, kicking him in the ribs and torso. The incident saw the "swan whisperer" appear at Southwark crown court charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was found guilty of the charge by a jury and has been handed a 15-month community order with a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement. Watch as Dublin Fire Brigade crew rescue swan found wandering in city centre traffic The judge also imposed a restraining order on Anders preventing him from entering Kensington Gardens or Hyde Park and stopping him from contacting Ferguson or Grey for two years. Anders was well known in the local community, dubbed the "swan whisperer" by residents. Some time ago he began living on the front steps of a £210 million mansion on Rutland Gate. Residents have reportedly given him books, trinkets and clothes, its said he has even been gifted a Hugo Boss tracksuit, a £500 Armani jacket and a Savile Row overcoat. 5 5 5 Anders represented himself in court and cross-examined Grey, asking why she was concerned about his interactions with the swans. Grey said: "Birds go to anybody who has food. If you go regularly enough they recognise you. 'They will always come over looking for food. It is not because they think you are fantastic. "But you stroke them, you cuddle them, you kiss them, you pick them up. That is interfering with wildlife, and disturbing them. It is not natural.' In passing sentence the judge, David Etherington, said: 'Mr Ferguson tried to apprehend you but in doing so he fell backward and pulled you over onto the ground and there was a tussle on the ground. "You then came back and further assaulted him, clearly with blows to the face and he says by kicking his ribcage and torso.' Etherington added when explaining how the argument began: "The sad thing is all three of you have an interest in the welfare of birds but different views about how this should be achieved.' Mr Ferguson reportedly warned Anders about touching the swans several times, siting an outbreak of avian flu. Anders ignored the swan volunteers warnings and continued to play with the swans. He denied the charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Bird flu: Could it be the next human pandemic? By Isabel Shaw, Health Reporter The H5N1 bird flu is running rampant in wildlife around the world and is now spreading in cows. In recent months, it infected people in Canada and the US leaving them severely unwell. This increase in transmission has given the virus lots of opportunities to mutate - a process where a pathogen changes and can become more dangerous. Scientists fear it's only a matter of time before one of these mutations makes it better at spreading among mammals - and potentially humans. Experts recently discovered that H5N1 is already just one mutation away from developing the ability to transmit person-to-person communication. Some experts believe the virus could already be spreading among some animal species. So far, there is no evidence that H5N1 can spread between humans. But in the hundreds of cases where humans have been infected through contact with animals over the past 20 years, the mortality rate is high. From 2003 to 2024, 889 cases and 463 deaths caused by H5N1 have been reported worldwide from 23 countries, according to the World Health Organisation. This puts the case fatality rate at 52 per cent. Leading scientists have already warned an influenza is the pathogen most likely to trigger a new pandemic in the near future. The prospect of a flu pandemic is alarming. Although scientists have pointed out that vaccines against many strains, including H5N1, have already been developed, others are still in the pipeline.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Telegraph
‘Swan whisperer' banned from Hyde Park after kissing birds
A so-called 'swan whisperer' has been banned from Hyde Park after kissing the white birds and assaulting two onlookers. Anders Fernstedt was filmed by a resident as he 'stroked, cuddled and kissed' swans in the London park in March 2023. Jon Ferguson, a swan volunteer, told the 57-year-old to stop interfering with the bird because of a recent outbreak of avian flu. Fernstedt then used a bicycle to ram into Virginia Grey, who had filmed him in the act, before attacking Mr Ferguson when he tried to apprehend him. Fernstedt was convicted of assault at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday and handed a 15-month community order. He has also been served a restraining order that bans him from Kensington Gardens in Hyde Park and prevents him from contacting Mr Ferguson or Mrs Grey for two years. Fernstedt had previously become a well-known figure in Rutland Gate, Knightsbridge, where residents showered him with gifts, including designer clothes and a Fortnum and Mason hamper worth £5,000. The recorder, David Etherington KC, told Fernstedt: 'I find you to be an eccentric man but not suffering from an underlying mental illness.' He added: 'You are obviously an intelligent man, you clearly have had a responsible work history and it is unfortunate that seems to have gone away.' The Swedish bird fanatic, who represented himself, asked Mrs Grey during a cross-examination whether she considered herself 'as someone with royalist sympathies'. Mrs Grey said she had sent photos to police to show Fernstedt interfering with the birds. While she also admitted that Fernstedt never caused any harm to the swans, she said his actions had encouraged the spread of the virus. 'Two of the worst Londoners I have ever met' She also claimed that Fernstedt called her 'Hitler' and she was 'very scared' of the defendant. The defendant denounced Mrs Grey and Mr Ferguson as 'two of the worst Londoners I have ever met'. The judge said Mr Ferguson required stitches inside his mouth and suffered from bruised ribs after being attacked by Fernstedt. Mr Ferguson described the defendant as having punched him around his face and slammed his head against the floor before 'kicking him in the back and ribs'. In mitigation, Fernstedt, who has no previous convictions, said he would 'try to modulate the boiling kettle aspect of life'. He previously told a probation officer he became homeless in 2023 after being evicted from his house that was going up for sale. Westminster council determined he had intentionally made himself homeless.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Billionaires' Row 'tramp', 57, banned from Hyde Park over his 'swan whispering' after he rammed a woman with his bicycle who filmed him 'stroking, cuddling and kissing' the birds
An eccentric homeless bird lover known as the 'Swan Whisperer' who lives in a doorway on Billionaires' Row in London has been banned from Hyde Park after a fight over a swan. Anders Fernstedt, 57, rammed a woman with his bicycle as she filmed him 'stroking, cuddling and kissing' the birds, then attacked a swan volunteer who tried to apprehend him. The pair had warned the Swedish botanist and writer that his actions were spreading avian flu amid an outbreak, a court heard. Fernstedt was found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm by a jury at Southwark Crown Court and was yesterday given a 15-month community order. Virginia Grey and Jon Ferguson had approached him on March 30, 2023, by the pond in Hyde Park after he had ignored multiple warnings and continued to touch the swans. Judge Mr Recorder David Etherington KC told him: 'You have beliefs about interacting with and touching swans and showing them to tourists to understand the bird population. 'The sad thing is all three of you have an interest in the welfare of birds but different views about how this should be achieved.' Fernstedt called Ms Grey 'Hitler' and 'evil' then knocked her over with his bicycle. When Mr Ferguson tried to tackle him the pair tussled on the ground before the Swede kicked his ribcage and torso, the court heard. 'He [Mr Ferguson] required stitches to the inside of the mouth which had bled which caused him soreness and blurred vision and he required painkillers for the bruising to the ribs,' the judge said. Judge Etherington said he found Fernstedt to be an eccentric man but not suffering from a mental illness. He handed him a restraining order preventing him from entering Kensington Gardens in Hyde Park or contacting Mr Ferguson and Ms Grey for two years. Fernstedt, who defended himself in court, has been living outside Rutland Gate in Knightsbridge, home to Britain's most expensive property at £200million. He has set up his own shelter in the large doorway of a 45-bedroom mansion, complete with a bed, plants, books and designer clothes donated by wealthy neighbours. He claims he became homeless in 2023 after a fall from his bicycle and because the property where he had been living was sold. Westminster Council determined he had intentionally made himself homeless, however. The judge told Fernstedt to reflect on his lifestyle and warned he should try to get back into the working world. 'You are obviously an intelligent man, you clearly have had a responsible work history and it is unfortunate that seems to have gone away,' he told him. 'Don't fall in love with this way of life, because when you get older and need help* try not to fall in love with this way of life, it is important you try to get out of it actually and get yourself on a more certain footing.' Ms Grey, who admitted she had sent imaged of Fernstedt interfering with the birds to police, told the court she had been 'very scared' of her assailant. Fernstedt, who gave evidence wearing a navy suit and purple tie with a long grey beard and his long hair tied up in a bun, claimed he had not wanted to hit Mr Ferguson and described the pair as 'two of the worst Londoners I have ever met.' He said he would in future 'try to modulate the boiling kettle aspect of life.'
Dominion Post
09-05-2025
- Business
- Dominion Post
Morgantown sales tax revenue surpasses $10 million in FY 2025
MORGANTOWN — The city of Morgantown collected more than $10 million in sales taxes in the current fiscal year. It's the first time collections have reached eight digits since the city utilized Home Rule to implement the additional 1% tax in 2020. Earlier this week, Morgantown City Council approved a resolution amending the city's projected sales tax revenue to reflect an increase of $490,694.51 in the 2025 fiscal year, bringing the total to $10,090,694.51. That number represents a new high-water mark for sales tax collections and an increase of $196,096.54 over the 2024 fiscal year. 'You're more than welcome when you can come and you can tell us we're not dealing with negatives, we're dealing with positives,' Councilor Bill Kawecki told Finance Director Jon Ferguson. 'To put things in perspective, this money is not just a gift, it's pretty much allocated to various activities that we have ongoing. You mentioned the pension plan, but also I think it helps to take care of some of the employee health insurance that we had to dip into funds to cover, if I'm not mistaken.' The enabling legislation mandates tax revenues be distributed in the following manner: 25% for recreational facilities and services operated by BOPARC; 25% for the purpose of reducing the unfunded actuarial accrued liability of the city's police and firefighter pension funds; 25% for capital improvement projects within the city; and 25% to be allocated at the discretion of Morgantown City Council into the city's general fund or used to supplement the funding going to the three uses listed above. Ferguson confirmed that the additional revenue going into the city's general fund would offset some of the $1.45 million the city 'temporarily borrowed' from its general fund in January to cover increases in the cost of the city's self-funded insurance plan. While the sales tax revenues topped the $10 million threshold in the 2025 fiscal year, it's expected they may drop by up to 10% in FY 2026. The upcoming spending plan conservatively anticipates just over $9 million in sales taxes. If that number holds, it would be the lowest full-year collection, by a considerable margin, since the city implemented the tax. The reduction comes down to the state implementing a more precise method of determining what businesses are located within a municipality, resulting in the probability that some businesses located on the periphery of the city have been collecting Morgantown sales taxes and remitting them to the state for distribution despite not being within the city's boundaries. Historical sales tax collections by the city of Morgantown include: — $5,457,116.46 for fiscal year 2021. This represented two quarters of collections. — $9,541,906.24 for fiscal year 2022. The city budgeted $6 million. — $9,464,938.11 for fiscal year 2023. The city budgeted $8.8 million — $9,894,597.97 for fiscal year 2024. The city budgeted $9.56 million — $10,090,694.51 for fiscal year 2025. The city budgeted $9.6 million.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Morgantown sales tax revenue surpasses $10 million in FY 2025
May 8—MORGANTOWN — The city of Morgantown collected more than $10 million in sales taxes in the current fiscal year. It's the first time collections have reached eight digits since the city utilized Home Rule to implement the additional 1 % tax in 2020. Earlier this week, Morgantown City Council approved a resolution amending the city's projected sales tax revenue to reflect an increase of $490, 694.51 in the 2025 fiscal year, bringing the total to $10, 090, 694.51. That number represents a new high-water mark for sales tax collections and an increase of $196, 096.54 over the 2024 fiscal year. "You're more than welcome when you can come and you can tell us we're not dealing with negatives, we're dealing with positives, " Councilor Bill Kawecki told Finance Director Jon Ferguson. "To put things in perspective, this money is not just a gift, it's pretty much allocated to various activities that we have ongoing. You mentioned the pension plan, but also I think it helps to take care of some of the employee health insurance that we had to dip into funds to cover, if I'm not mistaken." The enabling legislation mandates tax revenues be distributed in the following manner: 25 % for recreational facilities and services operated by BOPARC ; 25 % for the purpose of reducing the unfunded actuarial accrued liability of the city's police and firefighter pension funds ; 25 % for capital improvement projects within the city ; and 25 % to be allocated at the discretion of Morgantown City Council into the city's general fund or used to supplement the funding going to the three uses listed above. Ferguson confirmed that the additional revenue going into the city's general fund would offset some of the $1.45 million the city "temporarily borrowed " from its general fund in January to cover increases in the cost of the city's self-funded insurance plan. While the sales tax revenues topped the $10 million threshold in the 2025 fiscal year, it's expected they may drop by up to 10 % in FY 2026. The upcoming spending plan conservatively anticipates just over $9 million in sales taxes. If that number holds, it would be the lowest full-year collection, by a considerable margin, since the city implemented the tax. The reduction comes down to the state implementing a more precise method of determining what businesses are located within a municipality, resulting in the probability that some businesses located on the periphery of the city have been collecting Morgantown sales taxes and remitting them to the state for distribution despite not being within the city's boundaries. Historical sales tax collections by the city of Morgantown include:—$5, 457, 116.46 for fiscal year 2021. This represented two quarters of collections.—$9, 541, 906.24 for fiscal year 2022. The city budgeted $6 million.—$9, 464, 938.11 for fiscal year 2023. The city budgeted $8.8 million—$9, 894, 597.97 for fiscal year 2024. The city budgeted $9.56 million—$10, 090, 694.51 for fiscal year 2025. The city budgeted $9.6 million.
